For years, the rap on Alex Rodriguez has been that despite his gaudy regular-season stats, he folded in the playoffs. His October performance nearly dispelled that rep, and his ninth-inning homer in last night's World Series Game 4 took him to a new level, Will Leitch writes: "He has his Legend Comes Up Huge In October (or November, anyway) Highlight."
True, nothing is decided. The Yankees hold a 3-1 edge going into tonight's Game 5, but their tattered pitching rotation could still open the door for the Phillies to charge into "a teeth-clenching Game 7" in their attempt to sew up back-to-back titles. Nevertheless, "no one will ever, ever accuse Alex Rodriguez of not being clutch again," Leitch writes for New York. "It's almost a shame: What will we all talk about now?"
(More Alex Rodriguez stories.)